As we come to the end of twelve months in which COVID has once again played a large part in our lives, I trust you agree there are still many reasons to celebrate this Christmas and New Year. Through some very testing as well as happier times, we have come together as a community. And even though we go into the holiday season facing the renewed threat and disruption from the Omicron variant – as I write, the situation remains finely balanced – both in Surrey Heath and as a country we are in a better place than a year ago.
The vaccine programme and the accelerated booster rollout, and the fantastic efforts of the many thousands of volunteers who continue to step up to make them happen, have been a game-changer. I know well how resilient our brilliant local businesses and residents are: how we are all looking ahead to a brighter, better 2022; and to helping build our recovery.
Our upcoming celebrations might not be everything we wished for – but a cautiously Merry Christmas now will certainly protect us, our families, the NHS and wider society as we go into the New Year and beyond.
On that note, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone in Surrey Heath a very safe and Happy Christmas, and a boosted New Year.